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Serial fraudster snared thanks to persistent reporter’s mugshot enquiry

A judge has thanked a weekly newspaper for helping to catch a serial criminal after one of its journalists persuaded police to release a mugshot for publication.

The Romford Recorder has won praise for helping to snare fraudster John Peters, who was initially spared jail after posing as a charity worker and trying to take donation tins from three different shops.

However, Peters is now serving 18 weeks behind bars after being caught committing the same crime less than two weeks after he pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation.

Reporter Liam Coleman had covered the initial hearing for the Recorder on Monday 7 January, and had persuaded the Metropolitan Police to release an image of Peters to go with his piece on the case.

The Met’s usual policy is only to do so if a convict has been jailed, but Liam convinced the force to issue the picture on the grounds that he believed there was a high risk that Peters would reoffend.

On Friday 18 January Peters went into a pharmacy claiming to be a fundraiser for nearby St Francis Hospice, and a member of staff saw his photo while later reading the Recorder at home.

They reported him the next day and Peters pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud by false representation on Wednesday, with the Reporter splashing on the case on Friday.

Romford criminal

Jackie Jospeh, defending, told Barkingside Magistrates Court that the 36-year-old had a drug problem, and that he “feels stupid going back and doing the same thing”.

But, sentencing Peters, Judge Claire Pithie said: “These are not thoughtless crimes. You lied to those people in the shop, and you said you were collecting money for a hospice where people are dying. It’s just not acceptable.

“Had it not been for them spotting you in the newspaper you would not have stopped, as you thought you were onto a good thing. I am thankful that they spotted you in the newspaper, and I am thankful the newspaper published your photo and the article.”

The pharmacy staff member who reported Peters told the Recorder they would “never have known” about Peters if it was not for the paper’s coverage.

Liam told HTFP: “This case highlights how important it is to still have reporters in court covering local cases. I know from experience it isn’t very often you get praise from the courts and lots of people often even question why there is a reporter there as they don’t want their story in the paper, but this is a perfect example of exactly why we are.”

Recorder editor Lindsay Jones added: “This shows why local newspapers are so important in the community. This arrogant man thought that, having appeared in court and been released, he could carry on stealing from a charity and no-one would find out.

“And if the Recorder hadn’t been in court for the case, he would have been able to. Thankfully, his next victim was a Recorder reader and he was caught.”

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  • January 28, 2019 at 7:10 pm
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    Brilliant work Liam – thank God you convinced the police to show some common sense for once!
    A classic case of good old-fashioned local journalism at its very best.

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